Celebrating the small joys of life. Parenthood, cooking, marriage, and living in Shasta county...it's all fair game. If it makes me smile, I'll share it with you!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Middle age is not so bad. There is cake.

Somebody in our house is turning 40 this week, and it's not me. My
husband is bravely going before me to tackle this middle age business.
(I'll be there myself in less than two months, but that's another
post.) And in our house, birthdays mean cake.

Birthday cake is a tradition passed on from my mom who insisted that
everyone have a cake for their birthday. There were fancy homemade cakes
when we were young. In the days before fondant and Ace of Cakes, a
Styrofoam cup cut in half and covered with frosting made a very fancy train
tunnel. During my teen years, I recall the Fudge Pie Era where I
requested fudge pie for each and every birthday. It felt very
non-conformist to request a pie instead of cake, but my mom graciously
provided. Even after my brother and I went away to college and
made a life for ourselves, the "Happy birthday" phone calls from mom
always got around to the most important question of the day; "Did you have
a cake?"

Now that I'm married and have a family of my own, the birthday cake
tradition continues. Everybody gets cake on their birthday. Sometimes
it's store-bought and fancy. Other times it's a Funfetti cake mix
purchased at 7-11 at 9pm the night before someone's (almost
forgotten) birthday. But the tradition continues. If there is
no cake does the birthday really happen?

A few years ago, I stumbled across a recipe from a cooking gal you might
know...Paula Deen. Oh, Paula. I lived so many happy, healthy
years without even knowing that I was missing butter in my life. And
along comes +Paula Deen . So I tried this recipe for Ooey Gooey
Chocolate Ice Cream Cake. Yes, friends. The first ingredient is
one CUP of butter. But I'm pretty much convinced that Paula may be a
saint and butter may be the holy grail. Because this cake is good.
So good, so rich, so cold and delicious that everyone was requesting it for
their birthday. Year after year after year. As my husband's birthday
aproaches I ask, "What kind of cake do you want?" hoping for
something new. Something less labor intensive. Something that won't
clog my arteries just thinking about it. But the call of the Ooey Gooey
cake is strong. And my husband remains faithful to his butter queen,
Paula Deen.

But this year, he's turning 40. And we're breaking the mold.

I've been researching and Pinning and Googling "Fantastic birthday
cakes", "Super delicious cake", "Birthday cake to die
for", "Cake to make my family forget they ever heard of Ooey Gooey
Chocolate Ice Cream Cake". I plotted and planned how I would wean my husband
into new birthday cake territory on this, his big 4-0.

Enter Oreos.

I make a grocery list every week. 90% of the time, "someone" adds
Oreos to the list. 100% of the time that person is disappointed because I
do not, in fact, come home from WinCo with Oreos. Well, this Oreo lover
is going to get a treat this year. Goodbye Paula Deen. Hello ChocolateCovered Oreo Cookie Cake. What better way to ring in middle age with
a NEW cake! One made from his very favorite, packaged, chocolate sandwich
cookie?! It's Cake! It's Oreos! There is cream cheese
filling. What's not to love?!

I know. It's a little dicey. Trying out a new cake for this
milestone birthday. He's the birthday boy! What kind of heartless
wife won't make her husband his favorite cake for his 40th
birthday?? Yeah, I get it. But it's not as if I've ignored his
wishes and desires. I have proposed this "Paula Replacement
Cake" based on my knowledge of his deep love of Oreos! And also, I
have a short attention span. It physically pains me to do something the
same way more than say...three times. I like new recipes, new things, new
adventures. And I'm about done with the mixing and baking thawing and
freezing steps required for Paula's masterpiece.

I also know that my husband tends to be a creature of habit. And
my birthday is coming up soon. So there's a very good chance that nobody
in this house is actually going to miss out on Ooey Gooey Chocolate Ice Cream
Cake this year. JOY.